Big news for the day!

Big news: I just had a national television show contact me about an application I submitted THIS MORNING. I talked to one of the actual producers. I am not going to say which show, and nothing will probably come of it, but the fact that they called me back within a few hours of reading my info means they liked something about the story....

T.G.I.F.???

Chad is going to talk to someone about a position opening up at a local college. He is going after work. This could be a big burden lifted off of our shoulders financially if things work out. Let's hope his day doesn't end the way it started: Being late for work (even MORE late than usual) and backing into his sister's car as he was backing out of the garage this morning.

More pictures...

I haven't figured out how to rotate pictures yet, sad I know, but you get the general idea of just how cute Brennan looked on Easter Sunday. Best dressed and cutest. That's what I think.

I'm back!

Well, technically I never left. I'm just back to being as close to normal as possible. My sinuses are clear and I can breathe. My appetite is back. And big. I'm not quite as fatigued as I was, although I do get tired by the end of the day. Especially at work. Besides being on a roller coaster of emotions, and having a growing belly, I am me again. For now. I'm ready to be hungry, happy, and pregnant. After fourteen weeks I am!

Chad and I have been walking so I can burn some of these extra calories I have been consuming the past few days. I think I'm making up for lost days of little food. I crave carbonation and chocolate. Today. Tomorrow it will be different. I want Sprite and Brennan's chocolate Easter bunny in the fridge.... Why didn't the Easter Bunny bring me a chocolate bunny?!

What's funny is I wake up in the morning and don't even look pregnant, but by the time I go to bed at night it is quite obvious I am four months pregnant. Sunday I wore this fabulous $60 dress I bought this past fall for $9.99 (it's the bargain hunter in me) and it was hot pink and stretchy. NOT a maternity dress. It was a little clingy. Normally it would be fitting and flattering in all the right places, but as of Sunday it made my gut stick out, and if you didn't know better you might think I just needed to lay off the beer. I got a couple of double takes at the grocery store. I'm not quite at that stage where anyone would boldly ask when I'm due. They just think to their selves, "I wonder.....".

Anyway, just wanted to report to those of you who have been concerned, I am eating again!!! A lot.

Drama in the 'hood!

Breaking news of the day: Officer involved in a shooting in Florence. Yes, that is right down the street from me. Across the street from my neighborhood actually. Where was I when this drama unfolded? How did I miss it? I was on my way home at exactly the same time the police would've responded to the call. That was my good ol' running neighborhood. Chad and I walk down that street all the time. Man. I always miss the good stuff.

My new addiction:

HGTV!!!! Where have I been? I can't turn away from that channel. I love it! Even though it's the same gist to all the shows: Redecorating on a budget, getting a house ready to sell, trying to find that first perfect place, etc. etc., I can't stop watching. I am totally addicted!!! I want to be on that channel. I have a room that needs some sprucing up. Actually all my rooms could probably use some professional advice....

Moving on. I can't seem to get well. I still have this lingering cold/sinus issue. I'm having to take Benadryl every single night just to breathe when I lie down. (I called the doctor to make sure I couldn't overdose the baby by taking it every night). I have no appetite. When I do have an appetite I manage to take 3 or 4 bites and then I start to feel sick. I sometimes have to force food down my throat. Under normal circumstances this whole no appetite problem would not be a problem at all. I would appreciate it. I don't know if it's my sinuses making me not want to eat or if it's just lingering morning sickness. And I STILL have no energy. None. Nada. Zero. I'm in my second trimester now, so I was hoping to feel a lot better at this point.

One more blogworthy subject: Pre-schoolers. My son. Sometimes I think I must have prayed for patience somewhere along the way, and Brennan is God's way of granting it. Although, if it is, it's NOT working. For example: Today I went to have my hair cut. Belinda is cutting my hair and Brennan is being his usual inquisitive self, wondering around and getting into things that interest him (things he shouldn't be into). Well, this lady who is there having her hair colored goes to sit down and read her book while her color sets. Brennan had been in that chair when we first walked in, but at this point it was unoccupied. He sees her sitting in "his" chair and proceeds to throw a hissy fit. Tears are coming out of his eyes and he's yelling, "That lady is in my chair!" over and over. I don't know how to react at this point. Do I snatch him bald in front of everyone? Do I take him to the bathroom and spank him? Or do I do what I feel like doing and cry from embarrassment? He has NEVER acted out like that to a total stranger and I didn't know what to do! It's one of those situations where if you took him in the bathroom and spanked him then people would think that I abuse my child and I'm going overboard. But if I don't get onto him then people think that my child needs to go into the bathroom and get a spanking. Long story short: I apologized profusely to this lady, who sort of laughed it off. He didn't get a sucker when we left, like he normally does, and I lit into him in the car. I called his daddy. Not that that helped. So when we went grocery shopping at Kroger he did NOT get to ride in the car buggy that he likes so much and then he got his brand new Legos taken away when we got home. He just got them last night. He HATED that! But, now I think taking away the new blocks are more of a punishment to me than him. Granted he has a million other blocks and toys, he wants those, so now he acts bored and he's driving me NUTS!!!! But, I think he's smart enough to know that if he drives me crazy enough, I'll give in and give them back. NOT TODAY!!!! I'll just have to suffer through it. And make sure he takes a looooong nap.

So Chad and I were childless last night. So we went on a childless shopping excursion. So you'll never guess the only person who came out of the mall with anything. The child that wasn't with us. Let's just say he will be the best dressed kid on the block while his parents are patching up holes in their well-worn clothes. His Easter outfit is going to knock some socks off! One word: S-T-U-D. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. Chad better hope this next baby isn't a girl, because I like my son to be the best dressed kid in his Sunday School class and out of all his friends. Imagine how much worse I'll be with a girl. We might have to go on welfare to buy groceries while I spend all our other cash on clothes. I can't wait to see him in his Easter outfit. My heart is going to melt.

There's no more denying it.

I've finally admitted it to myself.... I'm losing my marathon running abs. The abs that I spent 9 months perfecting. Sweating and hurting over. Now I have a tiny being in there perfecting them her (or his) own way. It's worth it. It's definitely worth it. I'll just have to join a gym next year. Or give the marathon another try. (Did I just say that?)

I am so miserable! I came home from work early this morning (I was only there 30 minutes). I can't breathe, my head hurts, and my eyes are swollen and watery. I can't eat either. I ate a little chicken noodle soup earlier (why is that so comforting when you're sick?) so that I could have some food in my stomach. I can't take any good, potent drugs because I'm pregnant. I took Sudafed and it hasn't touched my misery. I HATE being sick. Especially when I can't breathe. I finally resorted to nose spray so that I could get some kind of temporary relief when I went to bed last night. I hate nose spray. I just want to crawl into bed and sleep for the rest of the day. And I probably could if I could BREATHE and I didn't have a preschooler running around the house. I just want this to go away. I was getting cocky thinking I missed all these diseases floating around, but I guess that's what I get for thinking. My immunity is down because of my pregnancy, I guess. Man, this stinks! And to top it off, I was having a good hair day today!

Fight or Flight?!

It's over!!!! It's over. It's finally over. What you ask? I had to get up and speak in front of the whole congregation this morning. A testimony. I have never been more nervous about anything. And I mean I was N-E-R-V-O-U-S. I thought I was going to faint once I got on stage. I don't think I will ever commit to anything like that again! Who am I kidding?! I'm a sucker. A big, fat sucker who can't say no!

I didn't sleep for 3 nights. Especially last night. Then when it came time to speak this morning I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Whatever happened to fight or flight? I kept expecting to be so mellow this afternoon after all that trauma my body (and my baby) went through. I can't even lie down for a nap! But, I also have a few other things going on this afternoon. I still wanted a catnap.

Now I think I'm coming down with the "crud". My nose is leaking like a faucet, my throat is sore, my eyes are watery, my ears are stopped up, and I can't quit sneezing! My nose always gets this weird, tingly little itch every time I'm about to get sick, and I've had that itch!

Other than the drama of today I've had a great weekend! I took Brennan to two of his friend's birthday parties and he had the best time! He can't quite understand all of these birthday parties he goes to and none of the presents are for him. He says, "When is it going to be my turn for a party? Can I have a present? Please, Mama, let it be my turn for a birthday party". He's so cute!

The things I think about while the world sleeps, and I CAN'T!!!!!

My new house. Which doesn't exist yet. As a matter of fact neither does the land my new house sits on. Well, technically I guess the land DOES exist. Somewhere. Somewhere close. As soon as I can figure out how to pay off my husband's student loans by the time we're GRANDPARENTS, that piece of land is MINE!!! I've already got the whole house planned out and decorated. Now I just need it in writing. And I need some money.

My 2 month check-up

I went to the doctor for my monthly prenatal checkup. They did another sonogram. Still not quite sure why, but hey, what's another 200 bucks when you're already paying several thousand. Whatever. Boy, has the baby really grown! It looked like a real baby in there! Not like last time when it was just a jelly bean. We saw the arms, legs, feet, and hands, and the precious heartbeat which was really strong. They moved my due date to September 18, but will probably deliver around the 9th or the 10th. (Are you reading this, Clark? MARK YOUR CALENDER! ) I actually have lost a pound, so if I don't gain between now and my next visit I'm sure I'll be getting the same lecture I did when I was pregnant the first time. It's not for lack of trying. I eat what I can, when I can. But pregnancy does strange things to your body, and your appetite. Things I loved before I can't eat. Things I didn't care for before, I find myself craving. Take for example: Sprite. I usually will not drink Sprite. Don't care for it, don't like the taste or the aftertaste. Now, that's all I want to drink! Crazy. That's what I've been told.... :-) So I will be 12 weeks on Thursday! September will be here before I know it!

We turned on the air conditioning last night because it was absolutely, miserably hot in our house. It ran until after midnight when it finally cooled off in the house. Now the high is going to be 46?! Sheesh. I think the weather is more indecisive than me.

Willpower: I had it....briefly.....then I lost it

So it's 9:00 on a Saturday night. Haven't had supper. What do I want to eat? Choices, choices. Do I want to go to Applebee's and spend money I don't really have and get something I know will send me over the edge (I'm talking heartburn and calories) ,or do I just run through Sonic and get a grilled chicken sandwich (again heartburn and calories)? OR do I go into Kroger and just buy a loaf of Sara Lee 100% Whole Wheat bread and go home and eat a piece of toast? (After all the heartburn has already kicked in just thinking about Applebee's and Sonic.) I was really stressing about this situation, when that little voice inside my head started talking. You know the one I'm talking about. I know we all have them. It's the one we choose to ignore when we know we are about to do something we shouldn't. I heard "Go to Kroger, go to Kroger! Too many donuts this morning. That reward was supposed to be for Brennan, not for you. Go to Kroger."

So as I'm walking through the bakery section I heard the chocolate chip cookies screaming, yes SCREAMING at me. "Look, Mandy", they say, "don't we look delicious and filled with chocolatey goodness?! And look! We're on sale! You deserve it! Really." Then out of nowhere that voice inside my head: "Just walk away. Just walk away, Mandy. They will do nothing but stab you in the back. They are so tempting just teasing you with all that chocolate delight. They may be good NOW, but wait until it's time to tip the scales. WALK. AWAY." Hey, wait, aren't those peanut butter cookies?! And look, they're on sale, too! Hmmmmm..... "Walk away, darn you! Just walk away". Okay, okay. I have my bread. That's all I need, right? Write this down for the record books: I'm walking out of the grocery store with only ONE item. But wait, there's the Easter display. Look at those cute little chocolate bunnies grinning up at me, taunting me. With their big candied blue eyes. Oh so sweet. "Walk away. Walk away. That's all it takes. I know your legs work perfectly fine. You just ran a half-marathon two months ago. Leave now before you regret it. All it takes is one step in the opposite direction." Okay, I'm going, I'm going. I'm checking out, but just let me get this one pack of sugar-free gum. Walking to the car, sitting in the car. Omigosh. Cupcakes. Sprinkles. Why did you leave Lindsey's house with cupcakes?! Because they're not for me. They're for Brennan and Chad. Eating my toast. Brennan is through with his cupcake. There's half of it left. What to do, what to do? Garbage? There's starving children in Africa! No it must be eaten. That little voice: "What the heck, Mandy? You're the most determined, unrelenting person I've ever had to deal with. I quit!"